A Blériot monoplane, similar to that in which Mr George Lee Temple was killed.
Photo: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA

Aviator killed during exhibition

Published: 25 January 1914

Mr George Lee Temple, a well-known aviator, was killed at Hendon Aerodrome this afternoon. At the time of his death he was giving the usual Sunday exhibition flights.

He had accomplished some good spiral work and was then seen to be making a deep descent. Apparently, he had difficulty with his machine and struck the ground with great force. Doctors, nurses and ambulance men found the plane overturned and the propeller in the ground. Mr Temple had broken his neck.

When the accident occurred there were only about 100 spectators present. He was flying his Blériot monoplane in a gusty wind of about 25 miles an hour. Onlookers said he was up in the air for about 10 minutes before the accident and had reached an altitude of about 500 feet. He descended about a hundred yards in an almost vertical position and just as he was about to make a turn for landing a gust of wind caught the tail of his aircraft, completely overturning it.

Mr Temple was 22 years of age and was a skillful pilot, known for being the first English airman to fly upside down in England.

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